Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-03-08
JACKSONVILLE, FLA, Feb. "a, '87.

JAcKsoNvILLK, FLA, Feb. "a, Ut.
Summer is truly upon us in this part OF the
United States. The weather has been hne
for the past week, the thermometer register
ing frome Is to 80 degrees in the shade at
noon. If it were not for the cool nights peo-
pie could not stay here throughout the year +;
and, as it is, the majority of the citizens Zee
to the mountains of Tennessee, Virginia, and
other States about the middle Of May, and
remain till the first or middle of October.
Those who remain have yellow, drisd-up
appearance. 1t is . common saying here that
were it not for the alien population and me-
groes, there would be no use for q cemetery,
as the natives gradually "dry up and blow
avav." As to the truth of this assertion
cannot cay. Thers is difference OF some
80 degrees between midday and IL o'clock
at night. About five o'clock every day cool
breeze springs up from the river, which tenn
pers the excessive heat somewhat.
A Northerner, after living here short
time, will not wonder at the extreme want OF
animation which characterizes the Southern
er. No one seems to have the least bit of
ambition. persons only idea seems to be
to get along as easily as possible, and it takes
but short time to bring the average North
ern soiourner to the same idea. There is no
life to the air.
One of the prettiest places in Florida, and
the one above all others in points of interest
alike to the fitting tourist and more sober
traveller, is we ancient city, St. Augustine,
or, as it is more stvlishly called by its local
papers, the "Newport of the South" trip
to this place should not be missed. There is
enough to be seen to occupy ones time for
many DAYS. Its narrow streets, its quaint,
old Spanish buildings, and it's general air Of
a bygone period of which we were not part
are of great interest, and tend to carry one
back into the past. l had the pleasure to be
one of party who took flying trip to
ST. AUGUSTINE,
where we met one of Augustus enterprising
citizens. 1t was a very pleasant surprise.
There are two and sometimes three excur-
sions to the ancient city each week; one by
steamer and one by rail. If you 60 by rail.
YOU will cross the st. Johns river, which is
about twice as wide at this point as the Ken
nebec at Augusta, by ferry. On arriving on
the other side you take the cars on the Jack.
sonville, Tampa and Key West R. r. This
road carries you through a fiat country COW
cred with pine, interpreted here and there
with oaks, palmetto and magnolia trees. The
ground is thnly covered with a rank grass
and cactus plants. As you rapidly pass along
you will see, here and there, small cluster
of negro cottages, or, perhaps, only solitary
one standing in the midst of the woods. Once
in while you will see a planters house-a
reminder of the past. The ride is of about
two and one. half hours duration. On arriv-
ing at your destination, you are besieged on
all sides by negro hackmen. As it is some
distance from the depot to the city proper, it
is desirable to take carriage, which can be
obtained for 81 so per hour. In this way the
tourist or excursionist is enabled to see n
great deal more, and with less fatigue, than
he could do by depending on the means nature
has kindly provided.
St. Augustine is the oldest city in the
United States, having been founded by Pedro
Mependez de Avles, September 8, 1865,
some 40 years before jamestown, Va, and
IS years before the landing of the Pill
grims at Ply mouth Rock The name St.
Augustine was given to this place by the
Spaniards, because they arrived upon the day
dedicated to that saint. The landing is de.
scribed by the chaplain of the expedition
Fray Francisco Lopez de Mendoza, as fol
:
lows:
"On Saturday, the 9Th day of September
the day of the nativity of our lady, the Gen
eral disembarked, with numerous banner.
displayed, trumpets and other martial music
resounding and amid salvos of artillery.
Carrying cross, proceeded at the head
chanting the hymn Te Deum Laudamus
The General marched straight up to the cross
together with all those who accompanied him
and, kneeling, they all kissed the cross. =
ThereupoD the General took possession OF
the country in the name of His Majesty. AL
the off GERS then took an oath of allegiance t
him, as their General, and as Adelantado o
the whole country"
The old residents date the discovery of thi
part of the country farther back still. They
say that it was first discovered and named by
Ponce de Leon, a gallant veteran and mari
ner, in 1912, SO years prior
St. Augustine is very pleasantly situated
being bounded on the south and west by thu
St. Sebastian river. and on the east by tn
North and Matanzas rivers, and the fine har
Dor. The first object of interest that yo'
meet after leaving the depot is the
CRY GATES,
which are situated at the north end of St
George street. These are quite picturesque
though all that remain of them are two squar
towers with Moorish tops, the sentry boxes
loopholes, and the short walls. The towers
are about 5x5 and 10 feet high. The sentry
boxes are circular apertures followed out o
the towers, just large enough for q man t.
stand up in There is one in each tower
The gate itself is gone, although the tower
by which it was suspended still remain. TIL
short walls are thought to be relics Of towr
wall which extended from the fort on the cas-
to the San Sebastian river on the west.
The next point of interest that we visite'
was the Military Cemetery, which is locate
south of the United States barracks. In thi
cemetery will be found three coquina pyra
mids, under which are buried Major Dade an,
LOT soldiers, who were massacred by tn
Seminole Indians near Fort King. The oil
Spanish Cemetery, situated on Tolamat'
street, is filed with antique, moss. covers
stones. To one who delights to revel in oil
memories, this cemetery will be found YER
interesting. There is also one other old Gem
: etery here just within the City Gates Gale
the Huguenot Cemetery.
The two places which we're of more tina
: passing interest to our party we're the oil
Spanish cathedral and slave market.
OLD SPANISH Cathedral.
This building, which was commenced abou
1880, and was consecrated in 1898, cost SIG
: $50 Like all the rest of the buildings of tn
older portion of the town, it is built of CO
quina, and shows very plainly the ravage
: of Father Time. The Moorish be-